After alleged branding and other forms of harassment, an orphanage here is reported to have brought the children in a van and left them on WCC Road, fearing raid by officials.
District Child Rights Officer S. Rajapathi told The Hindu that as directed by Collector Sajjansingh R. Chavan, officials inspected the orphanage, Sarojini New Life Centre, recently. After finding some deficiencies in the orphanage and hearing complaints of harassment from the children, they planned to conduct a surprise raid again on Tuesday.
Representatives of the orphanage, who got wind of it, took all the 33 students in a van on Tuesday morning and left them on the roadside.
Their parents had been informed that they could take their children home for half-yearly holidays. The children were forced to skip the half-early examination on Tuesday. After leaving the children on the roadside, they sped off in a car, it is alleged. On receiving information from the public about the stranded children, police and child rights officer made arrangements for their stay at two places. Their parents were informed and the children were sent with them to their native places in Ramanathapuram, Tirunelveli and other districts. Five students, who are waiting for their parents, are kept in a government orphanage.
Mr. Rajapathi said that one of the inmates, Sathya, a class VIII student from Eachanvilai near Kanyakumari, was allegedly branded by her fellow inmates at the instance of the orphanage in-charge.
Many students were subjected to ill-treatment. They were asked to cook food and at times even slapped with footwear by the person in charge of the orphanage.
Based on a complaint lodged by Mr. Rajapathi, the Thenthamaraikulam police have registered a case against orphanage representatives Jo Lethis and J. Kathiyal. The orphanage is being run since 1981.
Of the 88 orphanages in the Kanyakumari district, only one is run by the government and the rest belong to private trusts. Seven of them get government aid. As many as 3,200 children are staying in these orphanages and pursuing studies in nearby government schools.
Many orphanages have not followed the stringent guidelines announced by the government in the wake of two gruesome rapes in June at Pollachi. The district administration conducts periodical meetings and directs them to adhere to the norms.
